Songs and Prophecies of Redemption The chapter is made up of three distinct sections: (1) Isaiah 25:1. A psalm of thanksgiving celebrating the downfall of some heathen city, and a signal deliverance extended to Israel. (2) Isaiah 25:6. A prophecy of the Messianic dispensation, under the figure of... [ Continue Reading ]
The first half of the verse recalls in every phrase the language of the Psalter. Cf. Psalms 63:1; Psalms 145:1; Psalms 138:2; Psalms 54:6; Psalms 118:28. _thou hast done wonderful things_ as Exodus 15:11; Psalms 77:14; Psalms 78:12. These "wonders" are the execution (in the recent experience of the... [ Continue Reading ]
The writer of the psalm, speaking in the name of the believing community, praises God for His wonderful providence (Isaiah 25:1) manifested in the overthrow of Israel's enemies (2, 3) and in the mercy vouchsafed to the nation in a time of trouble (4, 5).... [ Continue Reading ]
The fall of a hostile city. The word "city" can hardly in this case be understood collectively, although the terms of the description are too vague to shew what historic city is intended. All that appears is that it is a city which, in the age of the prophet, symbolised the hostility of the world to... [ Continue Reading ]
The effect of this judgment on the heathen world. The probable rendering is, THEREFORE ( MANY) A STRONG PEOPLE SHALL GLORIFY THEE, ( MANY) A CITY OF TERRIBLE NATIONS SHALL FEAR THEE. If a single city were meant we should have a _second_representative centre of heathenism, alongside of the "city" of... [ Continue Reading ]
Its happy consequences nor Israel. The "for" may refer back to Isaiah 25:1 or to Isaiah 25:3; in either case the judgment on the oppressive city is regarded as a signal proof of Jehovah's protecting care over His people. For _strength_render STRONGHOLD, as in R.V. _when the blast … wall_ Lit., "fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Render: AS HEAT IN A DRY PLACE (cf. Isaiah 32:2) THOU HUMBLEST THE PRIDE OF ALIENS; ( AS) HEAT BY THE SHADOW OF A CLOUD THE SONG OF THE TYRANTS IS BROUGHT LOW. The meaning is that as natural heat, however intense, is abated by an intervening cloud, so Jehovah has means of bringing to an end the fier... [ Continue Reading ]
_in this mountain_ Mount Zion (cf. Isaiah 24:23), shewing that the author lived in Jerusalem. _a feast_(lit. "banquet") _of fat things … full of marrow_ The fat parts of the animal, which in ordinary sacrifice were reserved for the deity, were regarded in the East as the choicest delicacy. The same... [ Continue Reading ]
This section attaches itself directly to the concluding thought of ch. 24. The feast of Isaiah 25:6 may be regarded as a coronation-festival, inaugurating the reign of Jehovah on Mount Zion (Isaiah 24:23), although of course the state of things which is thus symbolised is not transitory but eternal.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the face of the covering … nations_ More literally: THE SURFACE OF THE VEIL THAT VEILS ALL THE PEOPLES, AND THE COVERING THAT IS WOVEN OVER ALL THE NATIONS. The phrase "surface of the veil" is peculiar, but a similar expression is found in Job 41:13. It is probably to be explained as gen. of apposi... [ Continue Reading ]
_He will swallow up … victory_ Rather: HE HATH ABOLISHED DEATH FOR EVER. Cf. 2 Timothy 1:10. The A.V. follows the rendering of St Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:54 (κατεπόθη ὁ θάνατος εἰς νῖκος), but "swallow up" is needlessly literal, and "in victory" comes from the apostle's familiarity with Aramaic. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lo, this is our God … save us_ Or, BEHOLD OUR GOD ON WHOM WE HAVE HOPED THAT HE SHOULD SAVE US. So in the next clause: ON WHOM WE HAVE HOPED.... [ Continue Reading ]
The humiliation of Moab. The heading in Isaiah 25:9 marks this as a distinct section. It might indeed be supposed, from the phrase "in this mountain" in Isaiah 25:10, and the use of future tenses in 10 12, that the song of praise ends with Isaiah 25:9 and that 10 12 are the continuation of Isaiah 25... [ Continue Reading ]
The fate of Moab is contrasted with that of Israel. It is as if one hand of Jehovah rested lightly and protectingly on Zion while the other crushes and extinguishes Moab. _under him_ means "under himself," i.e. in the place where he (Moab) stands. _for the dunghill_ R.V. IN THE WATER OF THE DUNGHI... [ Continue Reading ]
The figure of Moab trying to swim in the dung-pit is sufficiently graphic, if somewhat repulsive. _in the midst of them_ should be (as in R.V.) IN THE MIDST THEREOF, i.e. of the dung-pit, although there is an _enallage generis_. _and he_(Jehovah) _shall bring down_ HIS _pride_ See on ch. Isaiah 16... [ Continue Reading ]
_the fortress … walls_ Better perhaps, THE TOWERING FORTIFICATION OF THY WALLS. This verse has suggested the identification of the city of Isaiah 25:2; Isaiah 26:5 f. with a city of Moab. The expressions of the verse are certainly remarkably parallel to those of Isaiah 26:5, to which Duhm thinks tha... [ Continue Reading ]